Run off set for coroner's race

Published: Wednesday, May 14, 2014 at 03:43 PM.

Cleveland County will have another shot at voting for the Democratic party's nominee for coroner.

And it will cost the county around $30,000, officials said.

A runoff has been set for July 15 and will be between the top two candidates, said elections director Dayna Causby.

“A runoff has been called for the office of coroner on the democratic ticket,” Causby said. “If no candidate receives 40 percent or more of the votes, there is an opportunity for a second primary to be called.”

Expenses for the runoff totaling nearly $30,000 include staffing, ballot costs, coding of the voting machines and the cost to open early voting, Causby said.

The first primary was held on May 6. Tott D. Griffin won the Democratic primary that night, leaving him to face Republican Robert Morgan in November. Griffin faces Randy walker in the runoff.

The runoff will be a county wide race and all precincts will be open.

“It will be conducted like every other election. However, we will have reduced staff,” she said. “Each precinct will have three officials instead of five or more to help reduce costs.”

The Cleveland County Board of Elections has yet to receive official direction on early voting dates and hours.

For the May 6 primary, 6,793 out of 61,687 potential voters turned out, The Star previously reported.

If only 11 percent of the county’s eligible voters turned out, how will attendance be for a runoff?

Cleveland County held second primaries, or runoffs, in 2008, 2010 and 2012 with an average voter turnout of 1.6 percent, Causby said.

If nearly 1,000 voters turn out, that would be roughly $30 per vote.

“If that trend continues," she said, "that would result in approximately 1,000 voters for the entire county."

When is the second primary?

Tuesday, July 15 from 6:30 a.m. to 7:40 p.m.

Early voting dates and times have not yet been determined

Who's running in the second primary?

Tott D. Griffin* 1,310 37.33

Randy M. Walker 1,153 32.86

*Tott D. Griffin won in the first primary

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Cleveland County will have another shot at voting for the Democratic party's nominee for coroner.

And it will cost the county around $30,000, officials said.

A runoff has been set for July 15 and will be between the top two candidates, said elections director Dayna Causby.

“A runoff has been called for the office of coroner on the democratic ticket,” Causby said. “If no candidate receives 40 percent or more of the votes, there is an opportunity for a second primary to be called.”

Expenses for the runoff totaling nearly $30,000 include staffing, ballot costs, coding of the voting machines and the cost to open early voting, Causby said.

The first primary was held on May 6. Tott D. Griffin won the Democratic primary that night, leaving him to face Republican Robert Morgan in November. Griffin faces Randy walker in the runoff.

The runoff will be a county wide race and all precincts will be open.

“It will be conducted like every other election. However, we will have reduced staff,” she said. “Each precinct will have three officials instead of five or more to help reduce costs.”

The Cleveland County Board of Elections has yet to receive official direction on early voting dates and hours.

For the May 6 primary, 6,793 out of 61,687 potential voters turned out, The Star previously reported.

If only 11 percent of the county’s eligible voters turned out, how will attendance be for a runoff?

Cleveland County held second primaries, or runoffs, in 2008, 2010 and 2012 with an average voter turnout of 1.6 percent, Causby said.

If nearly 1,000 voters turn out, that would be roughly $30 per vote.

“If that trend continues," she said, "that would result in approximately 1,000 voters for the entire county."